The study focused on areas with high rates of child marriage, teenage pregnancy and STIs
CAMFED Ghana has revealed a significant lack of access to Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services for adolescents across five regions in Ghana during a recent study they Five Ghanaian Regions Face Adolescent Reproductive Health Service Gaps—CAMFED Study across some selected five regions.
The regions included Ashanti (Amansie Central), Bono East (Pru West), Northern (Tatale Sangule), Central (Assin South), and Savannah (Bole).
Focus areas
CAMFED Ghana study focused on areas with high rates of child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases and called for urgent intervention to improve SRH education and services for young people in rural communities.
Speaking on the findings from the study, the Executive Director of CAMFED Ghana, Fairuza Abdul-Rashid Safian, highlighted major gaps in knowledge on critical topics such as sexual rights, gender-based violence, adolescent reproductive health, and abortion.
“CAMFED Ghana urges the Ghana Education Service (GES) to integrate comprehensive and age-appropriate SRH education into the national curriculum. This initiative, we believe, will bridge the knowledge gap and empower adolescents with accurate information to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health,” she noted.
Youth-friendly centres
She explained that the study recommends that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) establish youth-friendly, confidential, and non-judgemental health services at the community level.
“I must say it is important to emphasise the need for accessible and inclusive services to cater to the needs of adolescents, particularly in rural areas where health facilities are scarce. Besides, the demand for SRH knowledge was also evident in the study, with 80% of 495 households surveyed supporting the introduction of SRH education in schools and homes for young people aged 10 to 15,” she revealed.
Fairuza Safian stated that schools, religious gatherings, health centres, and community health workers were identified as key sources of SRH information, while digital platforms were found to be underutilised due to limited internet access and digital literacy.
Findings
“One of the study’s notable findings was that adolescent girls in school exhibited a higher awareness of SRH topics than their male counterparts, who often relied on informal sources such as peers,” she said.
According to her, despite this, myths and misconceptions, particularly regarding the side effects of contraceptives, remained widespread.
Fairuza Safian further indicated that the cultural and traditional beliefs were also found to be a major barrier to effective SRH education at the household level.
“Many parents lacked formal training on SRH topics, further complicating efforts to provide accurate information to young people. Cultural and traditional beliefs equally hinder an effective SHR education that could have inured to the benefits of the girls in the region studied,” she indicated.
Acknowledgement
The Executive Director of CAMFED Ghana acknowledged the progress made in SRH services over the years but stressed the need for a multi-sectoral approach to improving access and promoting gender equality.
She noted that approximately 74.3% of households reported using SRH services, with public health facilities being the primary providers.
“It is essential to know that many rural communities lack public health facilities, leading to significant disparities in service access across Districts. Maternal health services and family planning were identified as the most frequently accessed SRH services, while legal aid and security services for SRH-related issues were rarely utilised,” she outlined.
The study, according to Fairuza Safian, equally raised concerns about unsafe abortion practices among adolescent girls due to the lack of proper healthcare services.
She mentioned challenges such as insufficient budget allocation for SRH programs, inadequate disability-friendly services, and the absence of health centres in some rural communities.
“Insufficient budget allocation for SRH, absence of health centres, among others, are some challenges that confront young adolescent girls in their quest to access SRH,” she pointed out.
Fairuza Safian added CAMFED Ghana is committed to working with stakeholders to enhance SRH education and services, thereby creating a healthier future for Ghana’s adolescents.